(I) Do // Wedding Venues

Choosing where to hold your wedding is one of the biggest decisions when wedding planning; church or hotel? Registry office or stately home? There are so many options and the possibilities are seemingly endless.

When we first started planning Nick was adamant that he didn’t want to get married in a church; he’s a scientist (I don’t really have to say any more than that!). Not really knowing what I wanted at that moment in time, I agreed. And so our search began.

We looked at a number of different types of venue; from old hotels to beautiful wine centres. Our guest list was pushing 100 at this point and we knew we couldn’t whittle it down too much (as we’d be inviting a lot of my family and not a lot of friends) so a registry office was out of the question.

We came across some gorgeous hotels; one we booked provisionally for our ceremony, as we panicked and felt we had to book somewhere. We kept being told that everywhere was getting booked up fast (this was over a year in advance). Hotels are great as you can usually invite everyone you’d like to, although things like food and alcohol are generally more expensive.

We didn’t look at any racecourses, but we do have some nearby; Kempton Park for example. The great thing about racecourses, as with hotels, is that you can have hundreds of guests if you want to, although that obviously comes with a hefty price tag! A lot of racecourse weddings can be held outside as well which, providing the weather is good, can be lovely.

I mentioned above that we looked at a beautiful wine centre. It had the most gorgeous barn where the ceremony is held, and a stunning rose garden for drinks and photos afterwards… Oh, and space for 100+ guests. It was simply amazing and oh-so romantic. However, that sort of beauty and decadence comes at a very large price, and it was one that we just couldn’t justify.

In the end, after a lot of thought, and after attending some amazing church weddings, we decided to look at the church local to our reception venue. The church is very old, but incredibly beautiful. We held my Father’s funeral there almost 14 years ago and in someways I want to get married there because I’d like to feel close to him on my wedding day (I know it’s a bit silly, but sentiment and all that). It’s also only a walk down the road to our reception venue, so we’ll be saving money on transport. We can invite everyone we’d like to invite to the church and it’s substantially cheaper than doing the hotel-registrar thing.

Nick finally came around to the idea, and after meeting with the Vicar we decided that we couldn’t get married anywhere else; a church wedding makes a marriage seem more official – I think it’s the spiritual element.

How did you decide where to get married? Was one of you adamant you didn’t want a church wedding?Hannah

It looks so lovely, and it’s not silly at all about why you’d want to get married there. We got married in my childhood church (I’ve kind of lost religion somewhere along the way, but my parents still go and I couldn’t have imagined getting married anywhere else really!) We had to do a marriage class with loads of other couples and for some reason the vicar gave Alex a proper grilling about believing in God – yikes.

You know where I got married…. a church wedding wasnt up. My street but Sam won that one and i’m now so thankful for it! We had over 100 guests too and nowhere else could do it for the price we could pay!

I’ve always known I’d do a church. Our church is where my sister and I got baptised, my dad is buried and my sister got married. I can really understand the sentiment for you wanting to get married in that church. And it is beautiful. For me, my wedding has always been pictured in a church and I’m more fussed about that than any kind of reception. To be honest, the actual getting married bit is the only thing I’ve ever thought about! Receptions? eek! xxxChambray & Curls

For me, it was always going to be a church wedding…I’m quite traditional at heart and it was in the family church where my gran dad’s funeral service was held and my boy was baptised and by the same vicar. Very special xx

We both wanted to get married in a church, probably more so with me, I think it feels more official in a church, that’s not silly at all feeling like you will be closer to your Dad on the day, I think it’s a lovely idea. x

I want to get married in our back garden! Churches are beautiful buildings but a religious ceremony would feel wrong for us as we’re both atheists. I also think buying pretty plants for the garden would be better than buying flowers to decorate a venue; and we’d enjoy the plants for much longer too! xxx

We had a church wedding. It was what I’d always dreamt of. In some ways, it was sad because it reminded me of my grandfather who was a vicar, and had he been still alive, would probably have married us, but in many other ways, I was very happy as we returned to my home village, where I’d carried the flag for Brownie parade, had christenings etc in the church. I think wherever you do it, it will be special, but I have to say, I do love a church wedding! xx